Flowmeters Help University Recover Over $1.25 Million in Annual Billings

On Virginia Commonwealth University's campus in downtown Richmond, Va., the steam plant consists of three identical boilers, each capable of generating 125,000 lb of steam per hour at 120 to 200 psi. The outlet lines for each boiler are 10-in. pipes, which lead to a 14-in. main. The main takes steam to a distribution network reaching nearly 60 buildings.

During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the plant generated about 420 million lb of steam, but billed the buildings and departments it serves for only 353 million lb, a discrepancy of 16 percent. The plant was using old steam and condensate meters to monitor usage.

In part because most buildings lacked the long steam-pipe runs required for many kinds of flowmeters, the university decided to install swirl meters from ABB Instrumentation, which require less straight pipe before and after metering locations — just three pipe diameters upstream and one downstream.

An element at the inlet called a swirler conditions and imparts a sideways twist to steam flow. Acting somewhat like vortex flowmeters, swirl meters are highly accurate, with comparatively good turndown ratios — up to 30-to-1.

In April 2007, the university began installing swirl flowmeters in campus buildings for billing. So far, about 40 buildings have been outfitted with swirl meters ranging in pipe size from 1 to 6 in. The meters help to pinpoint system leaks and faulty steam traps (Figure 1). Moreover, they promote energy conservation, as departments move to minimize utility costs.

Most swirl-flowmeter readings are taken manually twice a month. However, automated data collection is ongoing, with about 12 buildings online.

As a result of the installation of the flowmeters, steam losses have dropped to about 5 percent, and the steam plant is recovering more than $1,275,000 in increased billings annually.